Butterfly bushes, also known as summer lilacs, are absolutely gorgeous shrubs that thrive in containers. Their cone-shaped flowers come in a stunning array of colors like purple, pink, white, and red. And as their name suggests, they attract hordes of butterflies and other pollinators.
If you want to enjoy these flowering beauties on your patio or balcony growing butterfly bushes in containers is easy. Follow these tips and you’ll have vibrant floriferous plants that liven up any outdoor space.
Choosing the Right Container
The first step is picking the right pot for your butterfly bush. Go for at least a 12-inch diameter container with drainage holes. A 15-18 inch pot will give the roots more room to spread. Choose a durable material like plastic, ceramic, concrete, or resin
For weight and stability, terra cotta, concrete, resin, and ceramic pots work best. Plastic containers are super light and prone to tipping over once the plant gets bigger. Whiskey barrels and wooden half barrels make excellent choices as well.
Make sure to use potting mix, not garden soil. Potting mixes are lightweight, drain well, and have the right pH for containers.
Best Soil Mix for Container Butterfly Bushes
The ideal potting mix for butterfly bushes is loose, fast-draining, and nutrient-rich. Combine these ingredients:
- Coarse material like perlite, pumice, bark chips (improves drainage)
- Peat moss or coconut coir (moisture-retentive)
- Compost (provides nutrients)
- Worm castings (extra nutrients and beneficial microbes)
A sample blend could be 30% pumice, 25% bark chips, 20% coir, 15% worm castings, and 10% compost. Mix thoroughly and moisten before potting your butterfly bush.
Selecting the Right Butterfly Bush Variety
Some butterfly bush varieties grow enormous, up to 10 feet tall. For containers, compact varieties in the 3-5 foot range are best.
Top picks include:
- Pugster series – 2-3 feet tall
- Lo & Behold series – 2-5 feet tall
- Flutterby Petite – 3-5 feet tall
- Pink Micro Chip – 2-3 feet tall
- Blue Chip – 2-3 feet tall
- Nanho Purple – 4-5 feet tall
There are dwarf butterfly bushes with flowers in just about every color including blue, purple, pink, magenta, red, and white.
Planting and Initial Care
Spring is the best time to plant your butterfly bush in its container. Follow these steps:
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Partially fill the container with moistened potting mix.
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Remove the plant from its nursery pot and loosen any circling roots.
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Place in the container so the top of the root ball is 1 inch below the rim.
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Fill around roots with mix, firming lightly.
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Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.
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Place in part sun for a week while it establishes.
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Move to full sun once new growth appears.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Caring for butterfly bushes in containers is easy with proper watering, fertilizing, pruning, and protection:
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Watering: Check soil daily and water when the top 1-2 inches are dry. Butterfly bushes are drought tolerant but need more frequent irrigation in pots.
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Fertilizing: Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during spring and summer. Or top-dress annually with compost or slow-release granules.
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Pruning: Cut all branches back to 6 inches each spring to promote flowering and contain size.
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Overwintering: Move container to a sheltered spot. Stop watering once it goes dormant. Mulch to protect roots or bury pot in soil.
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Repotting: Transplant into a larger container every 2-3 years as the plant outgrows the pot. Trim back roots if keeping in same container.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Here are some common issues and how to fix them:
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Few or no flowers: Not enough sun, prune regularly in spring, allow to bloom on old wood.
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Leggy growth: Needs more sunlight.
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Wilting: Check for root rot and improve drainage.
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Leaf spots: Apply fungicide and improve air circulation.
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Aphids: Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control.
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Winter dieback: Mulch well and protect from harsh winds and cold.
Enjoying Years of Beauty
With the right pot, soil, variety, and care, it’s easy to grow vibrant butterfly bushes in containers. They’ll reward you with months of incredibly gorgeous blooms and waves of fluttering visitors. A containerized butterfly bush is a beautiful addition to any garden, patio, or balcony.
How to grow buddleia (butterfly bush)
Grow buddleia in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Deadhead flowers to encourage more to form and cut back hard in late spring to prevent the shrub from becoming too big. This will also ensure flowering occurs slightly later in the season, meaning there is plenty of pollen and nectar available for butterflies in late summer.
Related content:
How to propagate buddleia[image id=”44877″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Propagating Buddleja by hardwood cuttings” alt=”Propagating Buddleja by hardwood cuttings” classes=””] Propagating Buddleja by semi-ripe cuttings
Many varieties of buddleja will self-seed freely, but may not stay true to type. You can also propagate from semi-ripe buddleia cuttings in summer and hardwood cuttings in autumn.
How to Start a Butterfly Bush in a Container : Garden Savvy
FAQ
Can a butterfly bush be grown in a container?
Yes! Butterfly bush will thrive in containers. Be sure to select a container that has several large drainage holes, and fill the container only with a fast-draining, light-weight potting mix. The container you select should be made out of a weather-proof material that can be left outdoors year-round.
Will potted butterfly bush survive winter?
Buddleia is typically hardy to USDA plant hardiness zones 5 and above, but a container-grown buddleia may need winter protection in zone 7 and below.Nov 30, 2022
Do butterfly bushes like full sun or shade?
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Sunlight Requirements:Butterfly bushes are considered full-sun plants, meaning they need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
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Shade Tolerance:While they prefer full sun, they can tolerate some afternoon shade, especially in very hot climates.
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Impact of Insufficient Sunlight:Insufficient sunlight can lead to weedy, sparse growth and reduced flowering.
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Soil:Butterfly bushes are not fussy about soil type, but they do best in well-drained soil.
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Other Care Tips:
- Watering: Water when the soil is dry, and each winter (late winter), cut back canes to a few inches above ground.
- Pruning: Prune butterfly bushes in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth and blooms.
- Fertilizing: Butterfly Bushes rarely need fertilizer unless you are dealing with poor soil conditions.
- Watering: Water when the soil is dry, and each winter (late winter), cut back canes to a few inches above ground.
Can you keep a butterfly bush small?
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Pruning:Butterfly bushes are known for their rapid growth and can become quite large if left unpruned. However, they are very forgiving and tolerate severe pruning.
- When to prune: Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.
- How to prune: Cut back the plant to about 12 inches (30 cm) from the ground.
- Why prune: Pruning encourages bushier growth and prevents it from becoming leggy.
- When to prune: Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.
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Dwarf Varieties:If you prefer a smaller size, consider planting dwarf varieties, which typically grow to 2-3 feet tall.
- Examples: Pugster and Tower series are examples of dwarf varieties.
- Examples: Pugster and Tower series are examples of dwarf varieties.
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Other Considerations:
- Location: Choose a location with plenty of space for the plant to develop its natural size and shape.
- Spacing: Space plants 5 to 10 feet apart depending on the variety, and plant dwarf varieties closer together.
- Deadheading: Deadheading faded flowers as needed can encourage re-blooming.
- Location: Choose a location with plenty of space for the plant to develop its natural size and shape.